Overview
Store type & parent company. Times Supermarket (Līhuʻe) is a full-line neighborhood supermarket located at 3-2600 Kaumualiʻi Hwy within Kukui Grove Center. The Times chain operates statewide in Hawaiʻi (including Kauaʻi) and is part of Pan Pacific International Holdings (operator of Don Quijote USA); the Kauaʻi banner portfolio also includes Big Save Markets. (Times Supermarket, PitchBook)
Role in the local community. The Līhuʻe Times functions as a practical, centrally located grocery for residents and visitors—offering SNAP acceptance, ATM access, monthly/one-day Kauaʻi Bus pass sales, and mobility carts. Its siting inside Kukui Grove (the island’s largest open-air retail center with ~2,400 parking stalls) anchors routine shopping and errand runs for the greater Līhuʻe area. (Times Supermarket, Kauai County, Kukui Grove Center)
Why tourists might need to visit. Extended hours (daily 5 a.m.–11 p.m.), prepared foods (“Taste of Times” hot line + sushi), a full poke counter, flowers/lei, coin-op/household rentals (rug cleaner), and transit passes make it a one-stop provisioning stop on arrival or mid-trip. (Times Supermarket)
What distinguishes this location. Beyond the typical supermarket mix, Līhuʻe Times explicitly sells Kauaʻi Bus day/month passes on-site (unusual for grocers), stocks fishing supplies, and carries local Kauaʻi-grown staples highlighted across Times/Big Save Kauaʻi stores (e.g., Hanalei Poi, Kauaʻi Shrimp, Kapaʻa bananas, Kaneshiro Farms pork). (Kauai County, Times Supermarket)
Products and Departments
Visitor-relevant departments. Full grocery, produce, premium meats, seafood (with poke), bakery, hot deli (“Taste of Times”), sushi, flowers/lei; plus fishing supply peg. (Times Supermarket)
Local & Hawaiian products. Chain materials for Kauaʻi stores emphasize locally grown/produced items such as Kauaʻi Shrimp, Hanalei Poi, Kapaʻa bananas, and Kaneshiro Farms pork—assortments that typically flow to the Līhuʻe Times along with Big Save locations. Expect broader Hawaiʻi pantry brands and island snacks in weekly ads targeted to Maui/Kauaʻi. (Times Supermarket)
Unique to this store/location. On-premise bus pass sales, electric shopping carts for accessibility, rug cleaner rentals, and fishing supply stand out versus mainland chains. (Times Supermarket)
Pharmacy services (if applicable). Times operates a “Pharmacy” department category at the chain level, but the Līhuʻe store page does not list an in-store pharmacy; treat pharmacy availability here as not offered/not listed. (Times Supermarket)
Alcohol selection (if applicable). Hawaiʻi allows off-premise retail alcohol sales in grocery stores; in Kauaʻi County the standard retail sale window is 6 a.m.–11 p.m. (county liquor control rule). Times’ statewide specialty arm (Fujioka’s Wine Times) indicates a corporate emphasis on wine/spirits, though the specialty shop itself is Oʻahu-based. Practical implication: expect beer/wine/spirits in Līhuʻe subject to county hours. (Kauai County, Get Tips, Wikipedia, Times Supermarket)
Tourist-Relevant Services
Deli / prepared foods. “Taste of Times — The Kitchen” hot foods line (breakfast/lunch/dinner rotations) plus sushi made in-store. (Times Supermarket)
Bakery. In-house bakery with standard cakes/pastries and seasonal/local items as stocked. (Times Supermarket)
Poke bar / local food. Full-service poke counter chain-wide with multiple ahi and mixed-seafood styles; platters are available (pricing shown for Maui/Kauaʻi). (Times Supermarket)
Beach & outdoor supplies. General groceries + fishing supply rack; typical beach basics (coolers/snacks/ice/sunscreen) vary by week/season and are often featured in the Maui/Kauaʻi weekly ad. (Times Supermarket)
Souvenirs / flowers. Fresh flowers & lei are called out as a service at Līhuʻe. (Times Supermarket)
Photo printing / other visitor services. No dedicated photo-lab is listed on the Līhuʻe page. Ancillary services include ATM (Bank of Hawaiʻi), Coinstar, gift cards, postage stamps, and rug cleaner rental. (Times Supermarket)
Practical Shopping Information
Store hours. Daily 5:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.; chain holiday sheets indicate earlier closures on Thanksgiving/Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day; expect similar patterns locally. (Times Supermarket)
Membership requirements. None (standard open-access supermarket; accepts SNAP). (Times Supermarket)
Payment methods accepted. SNAP explicitly accepted; typical cards/cash are standard for Times though not enumerated on the Līhuʻe page. (Times Supermarket)
Parking availability. Located inside Kukui Grove Center, the island’s largest retail complex with ~2,426 parking stalls; surface parking is free. (Kukui Grove Center)
Bag policies (Hawaiʻi). Plastic checkout bags are banned on Kauaʻi; retailers provide recyclable paper or reusable options (fees may apply under local ordinances). Visitors should bring/tote reusable bags or expect to purchase paper/reusable bags. (Kauai County, kauai.surfrider.org)
Returns (visitor expectations). Times does not publish a store-specific return policy for Līhuʻe; standard practice for Hawaiʻi grocers is returns/exchanges at the service desk with receipt and within a reasonable time. Treat as ask in-store. (No primary source found.)
Local Specialties
Hawaiian brands to look for. Hanalei Poi, Kauaʻi Shrimp, Kaneshiro Farms pork, and Kapaʻa bananas are explicitly cited as Kauaʻi-sourced items in the Times/Big Save materials. On the snack aisle, expect island staples (li hing candies, taro chips, crack seed) and Hawaiʻi pantry brands rotating through weekly ads for Maui/Kauaʻi. (Times Supermarket)
Local produce & seasonal. Kauaʻi bananas, local greens, and tropical fruit are common; selection varies by season and ad cycle. (Times Supermarket)
Regional snacks & treats. Rotating features via weekly ads (Maui/Kauaʻi) often include island chips, cookies, and locally-made desserts; check current circulars for specifics during your week. (Times Supermarket)
Giftable items. Lei/flowers (same-day fresh), local candies/snacks, and nonperishables branded to Hawaiʻi travel well for outbound flights. (Times Supermarket)
Budget and Value
Price comparison to mainland. Hawaiʻi grocery costs are materially higher than U.S. averages; federal estimates place Hawaiʻi’s Thrifty Food Plan basket ~56% above mainland (statewide analysis), and Honolulu-area CPI data show persistent year-over-year food inflation. Translation: expect a noticeable premium versus mainland pricing. (Food and Nutrition Service, Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Best deals for visitors. Times runs Maui & Kauaʻi-specific weekly ads (digital and in-store). Value plays include family-size prepared trays (e.g., poke platters), ad-priced local produce, and multipacks for condo stays. (Times Supermarket)
Stock-up items for condo/vacation rentals. Breakfast kits (eggs/bread/fruit), deli/protein for sandwiches, pantry condiments, beverages, ice/snacks; if buying alcoholic beverages, note Kauaʻi retail hours end at 11 p.m. by county rule. (Kauai County)
Discounts/programs. Times promotes periodic chainwide promos and “Every Day Low Prices”; no separate paid membership is required. (Times Supermarket)
Visitor Tips
Best times to shop. For minimal crowds and fastest checkout: early morning (5–8 a.m.) or late evening after 8:30 p.m.—aligned to store hours and typical resort traffic patterns (guidance; no formal source).
Navigating efficiently. Use the weekly ad to target specials; grab leis/flowers up front, then poke/deli/bakery for ready-to-eat items; finish with shelf-stable goods. Bus passes are handled at the service area/checkout counters per store service listing. (Times Supermarket, Kauai County)
Must-try local items. Ahi poke (multiple styles), Hanalei Poi products, local bananas and tropical fruit, and island snack classics. (Times Supermarket)
What visitors typically need. Reusables (bags/cooler bag), sunscreen/after-sun, ice, drinks, breakfast/lunch fixings, and a ready-to-eat dinner on arrival (hot line/sushi/poke). (Operational inference using store services and hours.) (Times Supermarket)
Cultural/local etiquette. Bring reusable bags or expect to pay for paper; be respectful in line (locals use this as their daily market); observe county alcohol sale cutoff at 11 p.m. for take-home purchases. (Kauai County)
Fast Facts (Līhuʻe Times)
- Address: 3-2600 Kaumualiʻi Hwy, Līhuʻe, HI 96766 (Kukui Grove Center) — Daily 5 a.m.–11 p.m. (Times Supermarket)
- Key visitor services: Poke counter, Taste of Times hot foods, sushi, bakery, flowers/lei, ATM, Coinstar, bus pass sales, rug cleaner, fishing supply. (Times Supermarket)
- Parking: Free, large open-air center with ~2,426 stalls. (Kukui Grove Center)
- Bag policy: No plastic checkout bags—bring/buy reusable or pay for paper. (Kauai County)
- Alcohol: Grocery sales permitted; Kauaʻi retail hours generally 6 a.m.–11 p.m. (Kauai County)
Notes/uncertainties to validate on-site: in-store pharmacy (not listed for Līhuʻe), any photo printing service, and current return policy verbiage.
